From 8 to 14 April 2019, 12 teams from North America and the Caribbean battled for glory at the 1st IHF Men’s North American and the Caribbean Emerging Nations Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. But not only was the title at stake, the winners of the event would also qualify to the 3rd IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship to be held in June 2019. In the end, it was Cuba who could raise the trophy, with USA finishing as runners-up and hosts Dominican Republic claiming bronze.

 

In the preliminary round, the teams who were considered as favourites before the tournament soon turned out to be the dominating teams of the groups. Puerto Rico, Martinique, Dominican Republic and USA went into the quarter-finals unbeaten, while Canada, Mexico, Haiti and Cuba followed them with one defeat each.

 

The quarter-finals saw four rather one-sided matches, starting with a 41:19 victory for Puerto against Haiti, followed by Cuba beating Martinique 32:16, Canada losing to the hosts 16:28 and USA outclassing Mexico by 10, 35:25.

 

The semi-finals, in turn, kept the spectators on the edge of their seats as Cuba beat Puerto Rico 27:23 and the USA defeated the hosts after two extra-times 41:39.

 

In the ultimate game of the tournament, Cuba faced USA – the two teams had met each other in the preliminary round and already then it was a close match ending in a 26:23 win for USA. A thrilling final was to be expected and the teams did not disappoint the spectators. Even though Cuba managed to create a five-goal lead by minute 22 and went into half-time being four foals in front, this did not shake USA.

 

In the second half, USA slowly closed the gap until they even took the lead in the 49th minute. By minute 56, Cuba were three in front again and at the final buzzer, the scoreboard read 33:33. For Pabellon de Balonmano, it was the second extra-time match after the hosts claimed bronze after two extra-times before (40:39).

 

In the final, though, only one extra-time was needed as Cuba managed to hold onto their one-goal lead and took their revenge for the preliminary round defeat, winning 37:36.

 

“It's a great taste to win this competition because of how the players have given themselves and everything we had to go through to train and prepare. To have this triumph for us is the maximum and it is to believe that we can continue advancing and working for this,” Cuba coach Luis Enrique Deisle said.

 

Visit competition.ihf.info for more information about the event.

 

FINAL STANDINGS

 

1 - Cuba (qualified for Georgia 2019)

2 - USA

3 - Dominican Republic

4 - Puerto Rico

5 - Mexico

6 - Martinique

7 - Canada

8 - Haiti

9 - Dominica

10 - Trinidad Tobago

11 - Saint Kitts and Nevis

12 - Barbados